Jubilation as Soun moves to boost Aso Oke industry in Ogbomoso ahead 2025 Cradle Carnival
Khalid ABRAHAM
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The almost extinct Aso Oke (Ofi) industry in Ogbomoso is about to witness a boom as the Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III has pledged to assist the industry by reviving the weaving centre at Fedegbo area of Osupa, a neighbourhood of Takie.
The monarch made this promise Wednesday during a visit to the centre to personally assess the situation.
According to him “the Cradle Carnival is gradually approaching. Last year we went beyond Ogbomoso to Iseyin to buy the Aso Oke we used for the carnival and l want to assure you the participants this year will be in multiple of five above that of last year. As we were discussing about it Rev’d Peter Olaleye (his Special Assistant on Media and Community Relations) informed me that Ogbomoso used to have a thriving Aso Oke industry at Fedegbo.
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“But someone raised concern that you always delay, that you don’t always deliver on time. So, l decided to visit this place but before coming l got in touch with Onifedegbo, he is my friend. I told him that l would be visiting his people, the weavers. That is why we have come.
“Aso Oke industry is a big one, l can see the tradition is almost dead here but we will assist you in reviving this place. We will see what we can do. Seeing the number of Ofi weavers has reduced and seeing your looms in such uninspiring state we will try you with some contract and see how you perform but be assured that the demand for Aso Oke will continue to increase in Ogbomoso because of the carnival. Aso Oke will continue to be relevant.”
The Oba who was received with drumming by the community charged them on the importance of education in growing the business affirming that with education “you will be able to improve the design, add value and broaden the trade chain.”
He recalled how one of his friends in Lagos planning wedding for his child was asked to pay N130million for Aso Oke he needed before l suggested we contact Iseyin. “There are middlemen in Lagos who never are involved in hand-weaving the cloth but they add value to it because of their exposure through education and they rake in millions in naira. So, you have to be educated to make headway in this trade, encourage your children to be educated while being dedicated to this profession,,” Oba Olaoye said.
The Fedegbo community was jubilant over the prospect openly expressing gratitude to the traditional ruler.
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Improving the economy of Ogbomoso is part of the long term l plan of the visionary monarch encapsulated in his ambitious 25 year-development plan.
The maiden Ogbomoso Cradle Carnival in December 2024 was a testament to the Oba’s resolve as it drew large participants and tourists which contributed significantly to the economy of the town. The success of last year’s event has increased the anticipation for this year’s edition thus gradually the economy will pick up in different sectors implying cutting down the rate of poverty and upscaling the number of prosperous people.
